Global Health Press Release

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The US has issued a humanitarian waiver to exempt life-saving aid from Trump's 90-day foreign aid freeze, ensuring ongoing HIV treatment in 55 countries. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the waiver includes medicine, food, and shelter but excludes abortion and gender-related services. While UNAIDS welcomed the decision, concerns remain about suspended PEPFAR programs and potential disruptions. Meanwhile, Trump's withdrawal from the WHO could limit access to vital health data, weakening US influence in global health policy and benefiting rivals like China and Russia. Experts warn the move could disrupt pharmaceutical trade and public health monitoring with lasting consequences. [Reuters | The New York Times]

In 2024, European health agencies raised alarms as bird flu mutates to potentially infect humans, pets, and zoo animals. While the general public's risk remains low, experts urge enhanced surveillance, particularly for animal workers. The virus’s spread is poorly understood, hindered by a lack of data from Asia and Africa. The outbreak has triggered political and economic challenges, with factory farming identified as a key factor. Despite lobbying halting regulatory reforms, future efforts under Robert F. Kennedy Jr. may bring changes. Media silence on pandemic risks and economic impacts exacerbates the situation. [Reuters | The Guardian]

As M23 rebel forces advance in Goma, eastern DRC, humanitarian experts warn of a looming health emergency. The UN reports "relative calm," but the city remains under rebel control, with aid efforts hindered by blocked access. WHO officials express alarm, stating that ambulances cannot operate and hospitals are cut off. With widespread displacement, outbreaks of cholera, measles, malaria, and malnutrition are spreading rapidly. Nearly 700,000 people in camps are at risk, and the ongoing violence threatens to worsen the situation. Health teams fear a new mpox outbreak, as patients flee treatment centers and spread the disease in nearby communities. [UN]

Funding for neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) has declined since 2018, worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite overall health funding increases, NTD research saw cuts as major donors pulled back. To meet WHO's 2030 elimination goals, experts like Thi Hanh Cao of DNDi and Isatou Touray of Uniting to Combat NTDs emphasize the need for targeted, collaborative funding, including private sector and global south contributions. In positive news, the GHIT Fund announced a $12.7 million investment in eight projects for new diagnostics and drugs, including malaria treatment partnerships with major organizations like GSK and Eisai. [Devex]

Polio is making a dangerous comeback in Pakistan, with cases surging from just one in 2021 to 73 in 2023. The virus is rapidly spreading in volatile regions like Baluchistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where militant attacks on vaccination teams are escalating. The Pakistani Taliban views vaccinators as targets, fueling fears that eradication efforts are slipping. Cross-border cases in Afghanistan are also rising. With potential U.S. aid cuts and Taliban-imposed vaccination restrictions, experts warn that failure to contain the virus could paralyze more children and increase global transmission risks. [The Washington Post]

A new study shows COVID-19 continues to pose a greater threat to health than influenza or RSV, especially among U.S. military veterans. Researchers found COVID caused 60% of respiratory illnesses during the 2023-2024 cold and flu season, surpassing both flu (26%) and RSV (13%). COVID also led to more deaths, particularly among the unvaccinated, with higher long-term mortality rates. Vaccination reduced severe outcomes across all illnesses, with no significant mortality differences between vaccinated groups. The study underscores the importance of vaccination in preventing severe respiratory infections. [JAMA]

Stem cell-generated muscle patches have shown the potential to treat heart failure in both monkeys and humans. In a groundbreaking study published in Nature, researchers used pluripotent stem cells to create patches that improved heart function in rhesus macaques. The patches, which grew stronger over 3-6 months, were also successfully implanted in a human with advanced heart failure, marking a significant step toward clinical trials. Experts are hopeful this technique could overcome the challenges of artificial devices and organ transplants. However, some caution remains about its broader clinical applications. [Financial Times]

Scientists have successfully engineered a bi-paternal mouse—born from two male parents—that survived to adulthood, a breakthrough published in Cell Stem Cell on January 28, 2025. Led by Wei Li of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the team overcame imprinting gene barriers, which previously halted unisexual reproduction. By modifying 20 key genes, they enhanced stem cell stability and cloning efficiency. However, the mice had developmental issues, shorter lifespans, and were sterile. While future research aims to refine this process, ethical guidelines currently prevent similar applications in humans. This study paves the way for advancements in regenerative medicine. [NewScienitst]

156th WHO Executive Board

03-11 February 2025 | Geneva

Key agenda items include universal health coverage, communicable diseases, and the Global Strategy for Women's, Children's, and Adolescents' Health. Organizations like the NCD Alliance and DNDi have submitted advocacy briefings and comments for WHO Member States' consideration. [WHO]

Fifteenth International Meeting of World Pharmacopoeias

05 – 07 February 2025 | India

The IMWP is an ideal platform to emphasize the role and importance of quality aspects when speaking about access to medicines worldwide. Pharmacopoeias set quality standards for manufacturers to produce medicines and vaccines that are safe and of good quality. [WHO]

WHO’s principles for human genome data collection, access, use, and sharing: shaping ethical and inclusive genomics

11 February 2025 13:00 – 15:00 CET | Virtual Zoom webinar

This webinar offers insights from global leaders on genomic technologies, ethics, and policy. Key topics include equitable access, ethical research, data privacy, genomics in healthcare, and global collaboration. The event aims to advance ethical genomic research, streamline data-sharing, and integrate genomics into health systems. [WHO]

First meeting of the Strategic and Technical Advisory Group (STAG) on the SPECS 2030 initiative

12 – 13 February 2025 | WHO headquarters, Geneva, Switzerland

The STAG on the SPECS 2030 initiative advises WHO on strategies to help Member States achieve the World Health Assembly’s 2030 target for refractive error coverage. The meeting aims to receive strategic guidance on actions to meet this target, and gather recommendations for integrating refractive error services into health systems. [WHO]

4th Global NCD Alliance Forum

13-15 February 2025 | Kigali, Rwanda

In 2025, the Global NCD Alliance Forum is organized under the theme ‘Leadership on NCDs towards 2025 & beyond’. The Forum aims to elevate global and regional awareness of NCDs, accelerate collective action, unite civil society, promote evidence-based practices, and amplify the voices of people living with NCDs, driving commitment to prioritize NCDs in health and sustainable development agendas. [NCD Alliance]